Citation

Schepis TS, Ford JA, Wastila L, McCabe SE. Aging Ment. Health 2021; 25(12): 2365-2373.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13607863.2020.1839859

PMID

33131295

PMCID

PMC8088443

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Although older adult prescription drug misuse (PDM) is associated with concerning consequences, stimulant PDM and poly- PDM involving multiple medication classes each remain understudied. Our objectives were to examine PDM and poly-PDM prevalence by medication class in US older adults and to identify the mental health, SUD, and health-related quality-of-life correlates of poly-PDM.
METHOD: Data were from adults 50 and older completing the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, (N = 14,667). Prevalence of PDM and poly-PDM by medication class was estimated. Logistic regression established odds of four SUD diagnoses, five psychopathology diagnoses and lifetime suicide attempts; linear regression evaluated health-related quality-of-life by PDM/poly-PDM status.
RESULTS: Past-year PDM abstinence increased with age (50-54 years: 80.5%; 80 and older: 96.0%), while poly-PDM declined; past-year stimulant PDM was rare (≤0.6%), except when combined with opioid and tranquilizer/sedative PDM. Compared to no past-year PDM, both past-year opioid-only PDM and opioid-involved poly-PDM were associated with poorer health-related quality-of-life and greater odds of psychopathology and SUD, with the highest odds in poly-PDM.
CONCLUSION: The presence of any opioid-involved PDM in older adults highlights screening for SUD, psychopathology, and other medical conditions, with the most significant intervention needs likely in those with opioid-involved poly-PDM.

Language: en

Keywords

Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; benzodiazepine; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; older adult; opioid; Prescription drug misuse; Prescription Drug Misuse; Prevalence; psychopathology; sedative; substance use; Substance-Related Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents